If your cake is burnt on the top while the middle remains uncooked, it's possible that your oven temperature was too high, causing the top to cook too quickly while the center remained undercooked. Here are some steps you can take to salvage your cake:
Remove the cake from the oven: As soon as you notice the top is burnt, carefully remove the cake from the oven to prevent it from further cooking.
Assess the doneness: Use a toothpick or cake tester to check the center of the cake for doneness. If the toothpick comes out wet or with uncooked batter, it means the cake needs more baking.
Adjust the oven temperature: Lower the oven temperature by 25 degrees Fahrenheit (about 15 degrees Celsius) compared to the original baking temperature. This adjustment helps prevent further burning while allowing the center to cook properly.
Continue baking: Place the cake back into the oven and continue baking. Keep a close eye on it to avoid overcooking the top. You may need to extend the baking time to ensure the center cooks completely. Check for doneness using the toothpick or cake tester method mentioned earlier.
Cover the top if necessary: If you notice that the top is browning too quickly, you can loosely cover it with aluminum foil. This helps to prevent further burning while allowing the center to cook.
Adjust the baking time: If the top is already significantly burnt and the center still needs more cooking, you can cover the entire cake with foil and continue baking. This will protect the top from further burning while allowing the heat to penetrate the center and complete the baking process.
Remember that oven temperatures can vary, so it's always a good idea to use an oven thermometer to ensure accurate temperature settings. Additionally, following the recommended baking time and using the toothpick test to check for doneness can help prevent undercooked or burnt cakes in the future.